Germany rebuked Nicaragua’s claims in the ICJ on Tuesday that its arms transfer make it complicit to “genocide” in Gaza, claiming that Israel’s security is at the “core” of German foreign policy.
Israel’s security is at the “core” of German foreign policy, the UN’s highest court heard on Tuesday, where Berlin denied a claim that it is aiding in a “genocide” in Gaza.
Nicaragua brought Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to demand that judges impose emergency measures to stop Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other assistance.
“Our history is the reason why Israel’s security has been at the core of Germany foreign policy,” Germany’s representative told the court in The Hague.
“Where Germany has provided support to Israel, including in a form of export of arms and other military equipment, the quality and purposes of these supplies have been grossly distorted by Nicaragua,” Tania von Uslar-Gleichen said.
Lawyers for Nicaragua argued that Germany is in breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, set up in the wake of the Holocaust, by furnishing Israel with weapons.
Nicaragua asked the ICJ to issue “provisional measures,” the emergency orders that can be imposed while the court considers the broader case.
‘Accusations Fall Apart’
On Tuesday, Berlin’s representatives insisted that Germany supplied arms only “on the basis of detailed scrutiny… that far exceeds the requirements of international law.”
“Nicaragua’s references yesterday referring to artillery shells or to munitions that would be used in Gaza, simply bears no reality. Germany rejects them,” said Christian Tams, another representative for Germany.
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“In regards to humanitarian assistance, Germany continues to provide humanitarian support (in Gaza) every single day under extremely difficult conditions,” Tams told the judges.
“The moment we look closely, Nicaragua’s accusations fall apart.”
Nicaragua requested five provisional measures, including that Germany “immediately suspend its aid to Israel, in particular its military assistance including military equipment.”
It also calls on the court to order Germany to “reverse its decision to suspend the funding of UNRWA,” the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees.
Tams said that Germany has since resumed funding for UNRWA operations, a fact “ignored by Nicaragua.”
Jan Hennop, with AFP
